India UK Achievers Honours 2024
(Samaj Weekly)- Founder & Chairman of SEVA Trust UK & Cranfield University Alumni Charan Kanwal Singh Sekhon MBE was selected as the finalist in the the category of Society & Policy at the India UK Achievers Honours 2024.
This initiative by the Indian Students and Alumni Union UK in partnership with the British Council (in India) and the UK Government Department for Business and Trade aims to celebrate the India-UK educational ties by recognising the work of Indian students and alumni who have pursued a British programme of study and have since shown excellence in their field and made immense contributions to society.
Commenting on the importance of the India UK Achievers Honours, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: “First I would like to thank you for all that you are doing to champion the special UK-India partnership. I am pleased to see that for the second year, you are showcasing exceptional Indian talent that has been developed in the UK. I am extremely proud of the UK-India partnership and the 2023 Achievers Honours highlights the strong outcomes that can arise through partnership.”
Charan Sekhon said ‘I was surprised to hear the news about my nomination. I am grateful to Cranfield University for their great support. I feel humbled and honoured to receive this special recognition and would like to thank all the trustees & volunteers of SEVA Trust UK for their great support enabling us to deliver a wide range of charitable projects in the UK & India on education, health, environment & social welfare for the past 8 years without a single paid staff. I was fortunate to get an opportunity to study at Cranfield University and always wanted to give sometime back and help other students to pursue their dreams. I am determined to continue our team efforts to help and uplift others. I am thankful to the organisers for recognising our work of SEVA Trust in the UK & India.’
Alison Barrett MBE, Director India, British Council said: “As a jury member, it has been a pleasure to learn about the meaningful contributions by the applicants of India UK Achievers Honours. The success stories of the UK alumni from India are brilliant testimonies to the excellence of UK education and career opportunities it enables for international students. We are excited to celebrate the success of these alumni, and the ever growing partnership in education between both our countries.”
About India UK Achievers Honours:
Now in its second year, Achievers Honours is the most prestigious global recognition for Indians who have studied in the UK. The honours are highly contested and go through a rigorous jury selection. From cancer research to culinary arts, from bureaucracy to business, from law to LGBTQIA+ rights, these achievers are thought leaders and innovators showcasing the best of British study with Indian calibre and acumen. Achievers are based in the UK, India, and countries across the globe.
All the finalists were invited to London and honoured at the British Parliament where they had an opportunity to interact with British members of parliament, policymakers, and stakeholders in the education sector.
Last year, Achievers Honours celebrated 75 years of India’s independence by honouring 75+ Achievers across 8 categories. Bollywood actor Parineeti Chopra; Raghav Chadha Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha; Adar Poonawalla, CEO of the Serum Institute of India, Samir Saran, President of Observer Research Foundation; Aditi Chauhan, Goalkeeper of the Indian Football Team; Menaka Guruswamy, Senior Advocate at the Supreme Court of India; and Somdip Dey, AI researcher among those who were honoured in London.
India UK Achievers Honours and the Education Conference is sponsored by ETS Global, Loughborough University, Edvoy, and Pearson PTE.
More information: https://www.achieversshowcase.